BSc | Undergraduate

Accounting (Major) with Hispanic Studies

The Accounting with Spanish programme teaches accounting and business finance in an organisational context with a focus on corporate financial decision making and corporate governance. It integrates Spanish-language modules taught by the School of Arts, English and Languages. You will gain practical knowledge and understanding of the preparation of accounts and financial techniques, their interpretation and use in a variety of contexts to an advanced level. Alongside this you will study key aspects of management, relevant to your future career. Our links with professional accounting bodies and companies help create highly sought after graduates.
Integral to the Accounting with Spanish programme is the placement year students complete in a region of the globe where the language being studied is the dominant tongue.

Accounting (Major) with Hispanic Studies Degree highlights

Accounting and Finance at Queen’s is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the UK by the Sunday Times, and Complete University Guide.

Global Opportunities

There is the opportunity to study or work abroad, supported by schemes such as Erasmus and Study USA. Many topics include an international dimension which reflects the globalisation of the accounting profession and financial markets.

Professional Exemptions

The degree is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI), Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), The Association of International Accountants (AIA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales (ICAEW). You will gain automatic exemptions from some professional Chartered examinations on completion of the course.

Industry Links

There is an emphasis on helping students improve their skills for employment. Accounting students take part in tailored employability and skills workshops, and an annual Accounting Mini Fair, where representatives from accountancy firms and professional bodies provide students with information on placement and graduate opportunities.

Career Development

During the third year of the degree, students complete a 9 to 12 month placement in a Spanish speaking country.

The Accounting degree at Queen’s opens up a number of career opportunities including accountancy, management consultancy, and corporate finance.

World Class Facilities

You will have access to Bloomberg terminals in the Trading Room, giving students the skills, experience and knowledge necessary to prepare them for a career in the financial services sector.

Internationally Renowned Experts

You will be taught by leading academics who are well connected with industry and the Accountancy profession and able to combine cutting edge theory with real-world practice. Many of our staff are leading international experts in their fields of research and a significant number are qualified accountants with many years of professional experience.

Student Experience

The majority of the Accounting modules have prizes which are sponsored by employers or professional bodies. Students can join the Student Managed Fund, a student run organisation which aims to educate its members on trading and investing through guest speakers, competitions and educational seminars.

“The lecturers are highly competent and knowledgeable, and are able to impart their knowledge in an engaging, friendly way. The modules have covered topics that are both interesting and relevant in today's economy, and help to give a more rounded view of the issues relating to accounting in general. Accounting is a highly regarded degree, and studying it at such an esteemed university as Queen's could present excellent opportunities.”

People teaching you

Queen’s Management SchoolMartin is a Lecturer in Education. He is a qualified chartered accountant, with over twenty years teaching experience in higher education. His research interests include accountability and sustainability within not-for-profit organisations. Martin has a PhD from Queen’s University and an MBA (with Distinction) from the University of Warwick. He is an active member of Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Financial Reporting Faculty of ICAEW.

Contact Teaching Times

24 (hours maximum)22–24 hours studying and revising in your own time each week, including some guided study using handouts, online activities, etc.

Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial

9 (hours maximum)hours of tutorials per week (i.e. three hours in total per week per module

Learning and Teaching

Queen’s Management School is one of the largest Schools in the University with more than 1800 full-time undergraduate students and 300 plus postgraduate students. The School has been delivering high quality programmes for more than 40 years and was one of the first schools in the UK to introduce undergraduate management education. Since then, QMS has been developing and enhancing its teaching portfolio for both local and international students and boasts students from more than 20 different nationalities.

In recent years, the School has benefited from significant investment resulting in many new academic appointments and state-of-the-art facilities including computer teaching labs with specialised software and a Trading Room in Riddel Hall. In addition, the new McClay library houses an excellent selection of Management and related texts and there are extensive IT facilities throughout the campus.

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential. In line with this, one of QMS’ primary objectives is to deliver innovative learning and teaching programmes that provide students with the competences and skills to make a positive contribution to business, economic and civic life.

On the BSc Accounting with Spanish programme we achieve these goals by providing a range of learning environments which enable our students to engage with subject experts both academic staff and industry guest speakers, develop skills and attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world-class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this degree programme are:

Adviser of StudiesTo assist with the choice of modules at the beginning of each academic year

Computer-Based PracticalsThese provide students with the opportunity to develop technical skills and apply theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts. For example, one of the compulsory Level 1 modules, ACC 1004 Accounting Information Systems, incorporates a weekly Sage software practical.

E-Learning technologiesInformation associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree programme through the use of, for example, interactive support materials, podcasts and web-based learning activities.

InductionA formalised induction for all undergraduate students. For Level 1 students, this includes several half-day sessions the week before the programme begins to allow students to familiarise themselves with the campus and the degree programme. During Level 1 there are a number of follow-up sessions throughout the year. Topics such as academic writing, referencing, plagiarism, communication skills, examination preparation and managing time effectively are all covered in these practical sessions.

LecturesThese introduce foundation information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. As the module progresses this information becomes more complex. Lectures, which are normally delivered in large groups to all year-group peers, also provide opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification on key issues as well as gain feedback and advice on assessments. Additional lectures are also delivered by employer representatives and staff from a number of accounting firms are involved in the delivery of accounting workshops. In addition to the academic content of the lectures and workshops, this enables employers to impart their valuable experience to QMS Accounting students, introduces important local employers to our Accounting students and allows our Accounting students to meet and engage with potential future employers.

Peer Mentoring SchemeStudents in second and third year of their degree programme volunteer to mentor Level 1 students. Developing the programme themselves, with support from academic staff in QMS, the mentors organise informal meetings, regular contact and a series of events ranging from ice-breaker type events to employer-led sessions with the Level 1 students.

Personal Development PlanningTo encourage students to engage in independent learning.

Self-directed studyThis is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

Seminars/tutorialsA significant amount of teaching is carried out in small groups (typically 15-20 students). These sessions are designed to explore, in more depth, the information that has been presented in the lectures. This provides students with the opportunity to engage closely with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of their peers. During these classes, students will be expected to present their work to academic staff and their peers.

Student Support SystemsQMS has an active and co-ordinated student support system to assist students in making the transition from school to university.

Work placementsThe BSc Accounting with Spanish programme does not have a compulsory placement year. However, the School actively supports any student who wishes to avail of an optional placement year, normally between the second and final year of the degree programme. The School has a dedicated Placement Office which facilitates students in sourcing and securing appropriate placements which will augment their classroom-based learning experience. In addition, the School encourages students to seek other work-based and/or educational related experiences, whether that is through the summer placement programme (a 3-4 month internship in a local organisation working on a very specific project), Erasmus programmes with other European Universities, or studying abroad in universities with which the School and/or University has an existing relationship.

Assessment

The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the learning objectives of each module. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction. Accounting modules are typically assessed by a combination of continuous assessment and a final written unseen examination. Continuous assessment consists of:

Student Tutorial Portfolio – this involves the completion and submission of workshop exercises on a weekly and individual student basis. These are collected in the workshops from students each week and assessed, with the mark awarded contributing to the continuous assessment element of the module mark. The mark awarded reflects timeliness, presentation, accuracy and completeness of the required work. Consistent with employer feedback, students are also required to prepare and make a small group presentation on a pre-assigned case study type or discussion-based topic. In addition students are required to submit a 100 word summary on the accounting significance of each of the presentation tutorial topics. The group tutorial presentation and summaries are assessed, with the mark awarded contributing to the continuous assessment element of the module mark.

Small Group Project/Presentations – this involves the completion of a small group project/Presentation (three/four students per group) which is assessed and contributes to the continuous assessment element of the module mark.

Feedback

As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted

Face to face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.

Placement employer comments or references

Online or emailed comments.

General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.

Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.

Feedback and outcomes during lectures/workshops.

Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Entrance requirements

Note: if the language is studied at a higher level then the grade required at that level must be achieved.

Irish leaving certificate requirementsH2H3H3H3H3H3 including Higher Level grade H3 in Spanish or evidence of linguistic ability in another language + if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade O3 in Mathematics

Access CourseSuccessful completion of Access Course with an average of 75% + GCSE Mathematics grade B/6. Language requirements must be met.

International Baccalaureate Diploma34 points overall, including 6(Spanish),6,5 at Higher Level. If not offered at Higher Level/GCSE then Standard Level grade 4 in English and Standard Level grade 5 in Mathematics would be accepted.

Selection Criteria

In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.

Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by Queen's University Management School. Once your application has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form, which is considered by a member of administrative staff from the Admissions and Access Service and, if appropriate, the Selector from the School. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.

Applicants for the BSc Honours in Accounting with Spanish must be able to satisfy the University's General Entrance Requirement. All applicants must have GCSE Mathematics at grade B/6 or above. Applicants who have not studied Spanish to A-level, AS-level or GCSE level can take up Spanish if they have a grade B/6 at GCSE in another modern language. Offers are normally made in terms of grades rather than UCAS Tariff points.

Demand for places differs from course to course and for Accounting with a Language, past performance at GCSE is taken into account when deciding whether or not to make conditional offers. For last year’s entry, the final threshold was a minimum of 1A/7 and 5B/6 grades at GCSE. Please note that this changes from year to year depending on the demand for places. The final threshold is not usually determined until late in the admissions cycle, so there may be a delay in processing applicants who do not meet the initial requirements. Where applicants do not cash-in AS-level examinations results at the end of year 13 (Year 12 England and Wales), it is helpful if the equivalent grades are given in the personal statement or academic reference, since this will speed up the decision-making process.

Offers are normally made on the basis of 3 A-levels. The offer for repeat applicants is set in terms of 3 A-levels only and is one grade higher than that asked from first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.

Applicants offering other qualifications, such as BTEC Extended Diplomas and Higher National Certificates and Diplomas, the International Baccalaureate, Irish Leaving Certificate or an Access course, will also be considered.

The same GCSE profile is usually expected of those applicants taking a BTEC Extended Diploma qualification or a Higher National Certificate (HNC).

The current entrance requirements for applicants offering a BTEC Extended Diploma are successful completion of the BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits at Level 3) with 140 credits at Distinction and 40 credits at Merit. For applicants offering a HNC, the current requirements are successful completion of the HNC with 4 Distinctions and remainder Merits.

For those offering a Higher National Diploma, some flexibility may be allowed in terms of GCSE profile but, to be eligible for an offer, a minimum of two Distinctions and remainder Merits is necessary in the year 1 performance. Applicants must successfully complete the HND with 4 Distinctions and remainder Merits in all units assessed in the final year. Any consideration would be for stage 1 entry only.

Applicants offering Access/Certificate in Foundation Studies courses will be considered individually on their own merits and for last year the standard was an overall average of 75% in Level 3 modules including 70% in all Mathematics modules (which must be equivalent to GCSE standard).

In addition to the academic requirements above, the information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted, but these are not the final deciding factors as to whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking will not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking 4 A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.

If you are made an offer then you may be invited to an Open Day organised by Queen's University Management School, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University, to find out more about the degree programme of your choice, the facilities on offer together with a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.

International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be offering Academic English and Pre-sessional courses online only from June to September 2020.

Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

International Students - Foundation and International Year One Programmes

INTO Queen's offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.

These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.

Career Prospects

IntroductionThose pursuing a career in Accounting with Spanish should enjoy working with numbers, be effective communicators and work well with people as they will have to analyse and interpret financial information to meet the needs of different users, including managers and investors. Accountants must be prepared to take on challenges and be able to adapt to a constantly changing and dynamic business environment.

Normally the majority of our students become qualified accountants. However, many of the skills that students will acquire during their studies at Queen’s will be of great value in different career and life situations. Core transferable skills include the ability to learn independently, problem solve, understand financial information and work productively as part of a team.http://www.prospects.ac.uk

Alumni Success‘As one of the first winners of the BDO Prize for Financial Accounting, I was able to gain first-hand experience working in the professional business advisory firm. This ultimately helped me to obtain a year-long placement with BDO Paris where I had the opportunity apply what I learned through my studies. Now an audit trainee at BDONI, I look back fondly at my time at QUB and I'm grateful for the outstanding teaching and opportunities of practical experience both at home and abroad that were offered’.
Jessica graduated in 2016, is now an accountant with BDO.

Professional OpportunitiesA degree in Accounting with Spanish from Queen’s offers a firm base either for taking the examinations of the main professional bodies or further academic study. Career options as a qualified accountant are extremely varied and the employment opportunities for our Accounting graduates remain strong, both nationally and globally. Queen's has traditionally provided a high proportion of graduate entrants to the Accounting profession in Northern Ireland and many of our former graduates have risen to the top of their fields.

If you choose to work ‘in practice’ for an accountancy firm you might be involved in preparing tax returns, tax planning, audit and forensic work, internal audit, corporate finance, consultancy or even preparing accounts. For more information on what these jobs entail, please visit the websites of both the local and international accountancy firms.

The majority of qualified accountants work ‘outside practice’; for example, in industry, in the public sector, voluntary sector or the banking sector. They are involved as financial or management accountants, internal auditors and often in senior management roles.

What employers say

“PwC actively engage and recruit students from Queen's Accounting course. The students demonstrate both a strong academic standard but also the skills essential for employment. The students consistently perform well in PwC and they are deemed a vital resource to deliver business needs."
Stephanie Gowdy, Student Recruitment Manager, PwC, Northern Ireland

Additional Awards Gained

On completion of the Accounting degree, students will be able to apply for exemptions from the examinations of the main professional bodies.

Prizes and Awards

Top performing students are regularly awarded prizes and scholarships from leading financial companies; PwC, KPMG, Baker Tilly Mooney Moore, BDO, ASM and EY.

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fee rates are calculated based on a student’s tuition fee status and generally increase annually by inflation. How tuition fees are determined is set out in the Student Finance Framework.

* The tuition fees that EU students starting courses at UK universities following the agreed transition period are required to pay will depend on what is agreed as part of the UK's exit negotiations. Please refer to www.qub.ac.uk/brexit-advice/information-for-students

Additional course costs

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library.

If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. A programme may have up to 6 modules per year, each with a recommended text.

Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a final year includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

Accounting (Major) with Hispanic Studies costs

Students undertake a placement in year 3 and are responsible for funding travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. These costs vary depending on the location and duration of the placement. Students should be aware that placement and internship modules do not normally involve payment or financial support from either Queen’s or the placement/internship provider.
Students who undertake optional study tours are expected to make a contribution, of approximately £150.

How do I fund my study?

There are different tuition fee and student financial support arrangements for students from Northern Ireland, those from England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain), and those from the rest of the European Union.

International Scholarships

How and when to Apply

How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/students.

When to Apply
UCAS will start processing applications for entry in autumn 2020 from 1 September 2019.

Advisory closing date: 15 January 2020 (18:00). This is the 'equal consideration' deadline for this course.

Applications from UK and EU students after this date are, in practice, considered by Queen’s for entry to this course throughout the remainder of the application cycle (30 June 2020) subject to the availability of places.

Applications from International (non-UK/EU) students are normally considered by Queen’s for entry to this course until 30 June 2020. If you apply for 2020 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

Terms and Conditions

Additional Information for International (non-EU) Students

Applying through UCAS
Most students make their applications through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Queen's. The UCAS application deadline for international students is 30 June 2020.

Applying direct
The Direct Entry Application form is to be used by international applicants who wish to apply directly, and only, to Queen's or who have been asked to provide information in advance of submitting a formal UCAS application. Find out more.

Applying through agents and partners
The University’s in-country representatives can assist you to submit a UCAS application or a direct application. Please consult the Agent List to find an agent in your country who will help you with your application to Queen’s University.